Remember how much we loved to dig as kids - in the sandbox? In the dirt? At the beach? How we pretended we were digging for buried treasure? Finding a cool rock or a seashell back then was just like finding gold. Well, no matter how old you are, you can dig for treasures at this one-acre fossil pit in Pennsylvania. This time, however, the treasures you uncover will be millions of years old.
Montour Preserve in Danville lays claim to a one acre fossil pit, where explorers can find fossils that date back nearly 400 million years.
Digging at the site is free. Even better? You can keep the fossils that you find.
Explore the site that features Mahantango Formation shale, formed 395 million years ago. The most common types of fossils found include coral, lamp shells, and gastropubs. And, that's just the beginning.
Come prepared to dig. You'll need safety goggles, a bag, a geologist's hammer, and something with which to wrap and to protect the fossils you find.
Montour Preserve recommends that you bring bottled water and wear sturdy shoes with long pants. Take caution as you dig as some fossils may have jagged, sharp edges. (Kids are allowed at the pit but should always be supervised.)
Dig for fossils at Montour Preserve's Fossil Pit daily, all year around, from sunrise to sunset.
Address
Montour Preserve Fossil Pit
700 Preserve Road
Danville, PA 17821
570-336-2060
Click here for more information.
Have you ever been to this fossil pit in Pennsylvania? What did you discover? Share your experiences in the comments! Click here to read about some of the other hidden treasures you just might dig up in PA.
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